Randy was given a prescription for an antidepressant. His psychiatrist also gave him a long list of foods to avoid and warned Randy that consuming any of the foods while he was on the antidepressant medication could cause dangerously high blood pressure and even death. The list included cheese, smoked sausage, and red wine. Which type of antidepressant did the psychiatrist prescribe for Randy?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The list of foods to avoid suggests that Randy was likely prescribed a MAO inhibitor. MAO inhibitors can cause dangerously high blood pressure if consumed with foods that contain tyramine, which is found in cheese, smoked sausage, and red wine. Dual-reuptake inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors do not have such dietary restrictions, and tricyclic antidepressants have few dietary restrictions other than avoiding alcohol.

Randy Was Given a Prescription for an Antidepressant